Member Spotlight: Center for Transforming Lives
In our ongoing effort to celebrate the impact work of Early Learning Alliance organization members, we’re thrilled to feature the Center for Transforming Lives (CTL)— a powerhouse of family-centered support and early childhood education innovation. We spoke with Carol Klocek, Chief Executive Officer, to learn more about CTL’s mission, impact, and deep-rooted commitment to collaborative partnership throughout Tarrant County.
The new Riverside Campus—located at 3001 S. Riverside Drive—is a vibrant extension of CTL’s mission, empowering single mothers and their children to thrive through holistic, two-generational support.
Q: Could you tell us more about the mission and goals of Center for Transforming Lives?
A: The mission of Center for Transforming Lives is to partner with single mothers and their children so they can thrive. Our goals include creating housing stability, increasing income and assets, and improving emotional well-being for families.
Q: What initiatives or programs at CTL are you most proud of?
A: I’m most proud of our results. For 10 consecutive years, more than 90% of children enrolled in our early childhood education programming, including Early Head Start and Head Start, test ready for school. For five consecutive years, more than 80% of families remain stably housed after we work with them. The return on investment for our services is remarkable. For example, every dollar spent on early childhood returns an estimated $133,451 in lifetime benefits. I’m proud of our teacher tenure and retention rate. I’m also extremely proud of our beautiful new trauma-informed Riverside campus.
Center for Transforming Lives will be able to help an estimated 30% more families thanks to its new Riverside Campus, which includes:
Flagship Riverside Child Development Center with an outdoor playground designed specifically to aid in healing young brains exposed to trauma
State-of-the-art Economic Mobility Center (named Riverside Coworking) that features affordable coworking, a makerspace, audio and visual studios, and commercial and display kitchens to foster entrepreneurship
Housing Connections Center
Clinical Counseling Wing
Mobile Health rooms
Financial education workshops and classes
Free drop-in child care supporting participants enrolled in every program
Q: How does Center for Transforming Lives foster community, collaboration, and partnership within the field of early learning?
A: Our model is a partnership model. We operate three independent early childhood education centers, but partner with six community-based centers and Fort Worth ISD, offering Early Head Start and Head Start services through these partners. We place classrooms at their centers, provide curriculum, supplies, equipment, training, wraparound services, assessment, and so much more. It extends high-quality care into areas of the community where it is needed most and lifts the quality of care throughout Tarrant County.
Q: Why is being a member of the Early Learning Alliance important to Center for Transforming Lives?
A: Being a member of ELA is important to us because it is where we have an opportunity to understand what is happening across the community, where we can lean into making improvements, and be a partner in making Tarrant County a better place for children and families.
The Center for Transforming Lives is an inspiring organization member of the Early Learning Alliance. We are incredibly proud to collaborate with them, working towards a stronger future for children and families in our community. Their dedication motivates us all to achieve more and envision greater possibilities.
